I can’t even think about eating right now no matter how much my stomach is twisting itself together from hunger. I need out of these clothes though, I can’t stand the smell of myself any longer.
I crawl to the fresh clothes and pick them up to look at them. They’ve given me mens clothing. An XL sweatshirt and matching joggers that will hang off me, but I suppose it’s better than staying in the clothes covered in my own urine and someone else’s.
What kind of animals are these people? To not only do everything they have, but to also urinate on me while I was unconscious. What else did they do to me?
At the thought of what could of possibly been done, I clutch my chest as I hunch over to the ground, finally giving in and letting myself weep. I don’t know how many minutes I spend crying before the door opens again, not as harshly this time, and I look up to find Nero walking in.
He still looks put together, like none of this is phasing him, like he’s used to this and I wonder how many girls they’ve done this to or what business they are involved in. Could Alina and I have been taken that night we met him at the club? Especially if they spiked me, what was their plan that night?
He closes the door behind him and flicks the lock. The daunting sound echoing throughout the room reminding me of my exact circumstances.
He walks over to me and bends down so he’s at my eye level. He looks up into the corner of the room and I follow his line of sight to see a small camera there that I hadn’t noticed before. Now I know that it’s there, there’s no way I’m getting changed into these clothes and letting them see me naked and vulnerable. I look back at Nero to find he’s already staring at me and I know he can see the fear in my eyes at wondering what he’s going to do to me now.
“The cameras have been disabled, so I want you to listen to me.” He looks so deeply into my eyes that I almost feel like I can see fear in his to match my own.
“I didn’t know this was going to happen. I want no part in this side of the business and had no idea my father was involved in anything like this.”
He speaks with such sorrow that I don’t know how to take in what he’s saying.
“I’m going to get you out of here. Just listen to me and let me play my part okay? Do as I say in front of the other men and I’ll get you back to Dragna.”
He runs a hand through his dark, slicked back hair before he pulls his phone out and begins typing furiously on it.
“Do you know who Alina is?” My voice comes out scratchy and I wince at the pain in my throat. He nods his head slowly at my question.
“The Don’s daughter. I don’t think he knows about this either because I’m pretty sure if he did, we would all be fucking dead by now. I know he wouldn’t stand for it and I bet my life on it he will kill my father for doing this.”
I don’t know who is or isn’t the enemy, but there’s something about Nero now that tells me he’s being genuine.
“The man who came in to bring you the food and clothes is my closest friend, he is essentially my version of who you know as Lev.” He chuckles lightly.
“You can trust him when he comes in when I can’t. The cameras will be switched back on once I leave this room, so we have to play up to the fact we have you kidnapped but I won’t leave you alone in here with any of the other men and I’ll do my best to make sure they don’t hurt you.”
He looks at me with so much sympathy it physically hurts my heart. He knows how terrible these men are and what they are capable of and that only makes me more afraid for what they’ll do even with him telling me he won’t let them hurt me.
“This is all a fucking mess, but I swear to you I’m not part of this.”
He places his hand over his heart and lowers his head.
“No matter how much bad blood is between Dragna and I and our families, I would never hurt a woman.”
He sounds so distressed over me being here and hearing him say Dragna’s name makes my heart ache even more. I thinkabout what Dragna told me about me being spiked and I wonder now if Nero had anything to do with it at all.
“Why me?” I ask shakily, not even sure if I want to know the answer. He sighs, standing and shaking his head.
“Because you’re Dragna’s one weakness.”
I don’t speak because how can I have anything to say back to that? He’s just confirmed all of this is because of me. That it’s all my fault.
“I will turn around and you can get changed while the cameras are off so nobody will be able to watch you. My apologies that these are the only clothes I could get for you.”
He turns away from me and walks to the other side of the room and I watch him closely as I begin to stand as best as I can on weak legs and start to get changed.
I gag at the smell of my clothes before I toss them away from me, still keeping eyes on Nero to make sure he doesn’t get a glimpse. He stays true to his word and remains facing the wall, not even a twitch of movement coming from him. I finish changing and I’m thankful for the fresh clothes because even if I wasn’t able to clean myself, this is better than nothing.
“I’m done.” I say horsely, letting out a weak cough and Nero turns around and makes his way back over to me, lifting the water bottle up and unscrewing the cap.
“Drinkmia cara. You can’t die on me in here before I get a chance to get you out.”
